2/24/23: As 16GB is for everyone now, you don't have to jump through hoops of temp number, you can directly port and order online, but make sure you don't provide a CC which can be charged upon activation. Once you place order you SIM card will me be shipped without any charges to CC. But the activation kit says once you insert SIM and activate, your card will be charged. So you have few choices for not getting charged. 1. Provide a temporary CC with limited balance 2. There is lock Credit card feature in some credit card, this is will be prevent any authorizations temporarily, so lock your CC before you activate. Then apply Prepaid refill to pay. However I had an issue with port, I've to call couple times to get activated so that I could login to online account.
Because this is an AT&T thread there is a few things you need to know before joining:
Good News! All AT&T Prepaid plans now include access to the AT&T 5G Network. *5G Compatible device/5G Branded Sim Card Required, device must be on AT&T's Whitelist to qualify. For eSim: 5G Device is required for 5G service on eSim.*Note: Your device may need a software update to be fully 5G compliant on AT&T.
Does your phone work on AT&T? This PDF in the link below shows what devices are AT&T VoLTE Certified/Approved and Whitelisted on the network.
NEW! Updated August 22nd, 2023: https://www.att.com/scmsassets/su...etwork.pdf
*Note: AT&T compatibility list may update at any time. Xiaomi devices are now banned from AT&T (did not get AT&T VoLTE Certification/Approval), select Huawei/ZTE devices still allowed. 5G Requires device capable of transmitting and receiving a 5G Signal/5G branded Compatible Sim Card.
AT&T Network Status as of March 2023:
5G+: This network is live and is expanding. When you see 5G+ this means your either connected to C-Band(n77) or mmWave. mmWave speed averages between: 600mbps - 1+ Gigs per second. C-Band speed averages between: 60mbps - 460mbps.
5G(NSA/SA): 5G Non-Standalone is where the carriers pair 5G tech with 4G LTE to provide fast data speeds. 5G Standalone is 5G that is on it's own and does not need LTE to work. *Note: At this time AT&T does not offer their 5G standalone(SA) core to customers, all 5G that is not mmWave is Non-standalone.
5Ge/4G LTE: 5Ge and 4G LTE are the same with a slight difference. 5Ge areas have Next evolution Carrier Aggregation/Back haul upgrades, areas that are LTE only have limited Carrier aggregation or only 1 LTE band broadcasting.
4G(HSPA+): This network has been retired and is shut down.
3G(UMTS): 3G UMTS has been shut down and no longer exists, In select Markets AT&T has re-farmed 3G's old spectrum and added it to 5G "n5" to boost speed and capacity.
2G(2G/EDGE/GPRS/GSM): This network had it's sunset date in 2019, it is shut down and no longer exists.
Sim card SKU's that do not support 5G+: 4453A, 4488A, 72290. Sim cards that were purchased from Straight Talk are based on 4488A and do not include 5G/5G+ support.
Sim card SKU's that do support 5G+: 6471C, 6531C, 6533C, 6661A, 6818B. eSim: 6969C.
*Note: For some devices, AT&T requires that you be on the latest Software Update to get all features working on the AT&T network including VoLTE specific features. Make sure that your phone is completely up-to-date for the best network experience.
--------------------------------------------------------
$300 + local taxes/fees on top ($20-$30 for most) if you pay directly with CC -- less hassle when activating but you might pay more if you're in a high tax area
You can look for ATT Prepaid refill cards on sale to save some money -- you can buy from Target website for email delivery in which case Target does not charge any taxes/fees (you can save at least 5% with Target RedCard or more if its also on sale)
*** A lot of people have trouble porting their number and getting 16gb promo when using "keep my number" option on initial order since they have to call CS for help with initial activation/port (this in an online promo so not available over phone or in-store) -- calling CS for initial activation/port might drop 16gb promo (you'll only get 8gb standard) and there's no easy way for them to give it to you afterwards:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
Best option is to get a new temp number when ordering service -- just make sure the new temp number is from the same area/region as your regular phone number that you're going to port later.
For service zip code use a zip code from where your regular number is originally from -- ATT Prepaid's outdated system seems to have trouble porting numbers from different markets.
For example: if you have a Chicago number but currently live in NYC then make sure you get a new temp Chicago number when ordering/activating prepaid service. Do not get a new NYC number as their prepaid system won't be able to port a Chicago number on top of NYC number later on since the numbers are from different markets/regions.
Once your new temp number is activated you should see 16gb under line usage section (8gb bonus + 8gb standard) then you can call port activation center @ 888-898-7685 to have them port your regular number over -- let them know you just activated new prepaid service with a temp number and now you want to port your regular number over
** eSIM online activation makes it easier to get new temp number from same region and also pay with refill cards:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
> eSIM online activation works for iPhones and maybe some new Androids (enter your EID and eSIM IMEI to see if activation page accepts it or not)
> If it doesn't accept your Android phone then you can choose to have either physical sim or eSIM card shipped when placing your online order, or just pick one up from an AT&T store or other retailer that sells AT&T Prepaid SIMS then use the AT&T Prepaid activation site https://www.att.com/pprepaid/activations then port your number later
Physical sim activation online (like with ESIM above) with using the temp number option with a physical sim picked up from an retail location (AT&T Store or department store like Walmart.
SIM/ESIM is active as soon as you hit continue after entering your email on the AT&T (short codes work even if your service isn't active) Prepaid Activation Portal https://www.att.com/prepaid/activations
Pop the physical sim into your phone and find the number or go into your cellular settings for the esim. Just use the temp phone number to register the account https://www.paygonline.
** ATT Postpaid or ATT MVNO currently then you'll need to port twice -- once to VZ/TMo based carrier to get off ATT network for few hours then port again to your new ATT Prepaid 16gb plan:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
>> TMobile has $10 Connect prepaid plan + $10 sim = $20 + taxes/fees (you can also try eSIM: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
>> Visible (Verizon) is $5 if you have $25 back on $30 Visible service offer on your Chase/BoA/USBank card (you'll need compatible phone to activate service)
>> Tracfone (Verizon) $1 sim kit from Target/Walmart/BB/Amazon + $15 Tracfone prepaid smartphone plan (Target website has email delivery)
Leave a Comment
Top Comments
1,888 Comments
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Technically speaking if you are only using it on wifi 100% you do not need a cellular plan. You can get a Google voice number and use that or FT you can contact via icloud email address. This is how it was done on the old ipods with no cellular modem
I signed up for their most basic plan, which is unlimited talk and text for $8. No data.
No need for data now since my son only uses the phone at home or wherever there is WiFi.
Comes out to $12+ with tax each month.
Called up this morning and played the transfer game from billing, back to CS, back to billing...back to CS, both of them in their broken language/understanding skills saying "only the other dept can process" I gave up after the 3rd transfer attempt and hung up and called my CC to dispute the charge. Never thought ATT would be such a nightmare to deal with or I would have never switched!
I'm Currenty on hold at this moment, been on the line with them for almost an hour (for the third time in 2 days), finally got everything activated yesterday but only the 8GB plan (yes I've asked and checked and it does not have/show an extra 8GB promo data). What they are now telling me the reason I only got 8GM is because I ported a number over, and its for "new" numbers only, makes no sense to me at all. I cant find anything in the terms and conditions that specifically state that you cant port a number and get the 16GB but also cant find anything that says you can. However when you order the plan online you literally select if your porting a number and what that number is.
UPDATE they are now saying that porting should work and be eligible (of course it should) and have opened another case. Taking a lot of work to get this right.
Go back a couple of pages and a step by step instruction on how to activate directly on esim is explained
Search is your friend!
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
https://giftcards.kroge
The number port itself again this time seemed to go fine. I got messages saying the number was ported fine, the correct number was tied to the SIM that they sent to me, and showed up in my online account correctly. The issue seemed to be with activating the plan itself, although I go so confused with my multiple phone calls with them and all the conflicting things they've said I dont really know what happened lol.
Called up this morning and played the transfer game from billing, back to CS, back to billing...back to CS, both of them in their broken language/understanding skills saying "only the other dept can process" I gave up after the 3rd transfer attempt and hung up and called my CC to dispute the charge. Never thought ATT would be such a nightmare to deal with or I would have never switched!
The number port itself again this time seemed to go fine. I got messages saying the number was ported fine, the correct number was tied to the SIM that they sent to me, and showed up in my online account correctly. The issue seemed to be with activating the plan itself, although I go so confused with my multiple phone calls with them and all the conflicting things they've said I dont really know what happened lol.
As per my many posts and recommendations I suggest you get a new number!! and then set up the new number and just call port activations to port over old number onto new number
Case in point I just set up an account from scratch for a friend and from setup to port it was less than 30 minutes and the port was instantaneous from tmobile to att prepaid!
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
There is a post here that I followed, it wasn't exactly accurate, but I was able to make use of it. I have an iPhone 13 so you need to verify your phone supports eSim.
Used laptop for online eSIM activation:
AT&T Prepaid Activation Portal (att.com) [att.com]
You use this to put your eSim information at that portal
- Entered EID (last 4) and IMEI2 (On iPhone go to About it will display the information make sure your giving the eSIM information and not your regular sim)
Once you activate it, you have to go to setting then Cellular and accept the AT&T eSim activation. I left my t-mobile sim in while doing this.
Once its activated on the computer you select the 8GB X 2 plan and setup your AT&T account. At one point it asks for credit card information. Once its setup and you have a "temp number"
THEN you call ATT port dept @ 888-898-7685
Since I came from T-mobile you have to use the T-mobile app on my iPhone to generate a port out pin. The guy on the phone helped me with this. Once its complete the call disconnected and i rebooted my phone and the number changed data worked but it took most of the night for the port to complete
The $300 plan came to $330 not sure if they charged me an activation fee I can't view the details , didn't bother with gift cards too much hassle
I ran a speed test and I'm getting 115 Mbit down indoors on 5GE so i'm pretty satisfied (Don't run a lot of these they take a lot of data)
Leave a Comment